Shloka 17
दमयन्ती-शपथः वायोः साक्ष्यं च
Damayantī’s Oath and Vāyu’s Testimony
मृद्यमानानि पाणिभ्यां तेन पुष्पाणि नान्यथा । भूय एव सुगन्धीनि हषितानि भवन्ति हि । एतान्यद्धुतलिड्डानि दृष्टवाहं द्रतमागता,एक और भी अत्यन्त आश्चर्यजनक बात मुझे उसमें दिखायी दी है। वह फूल लेकर उन्हें हाथोंसे धीरे-धीरे मसलता था। हाथोंसे मसलनेपर भी वे फूल विकृत नहीं होते थे अपितु और भी सुगन्धित और विकसित हो जाते थे। ये अद्भुत लक्षण देखकर मैं शीघ्रतापूर्वक यहाँ आयी हूँ
bṛhadaśva uvāca | mṛdyamānāni pāṇibhyāṃ tena puṣpāṇi nānyathā | bhūya eva sugandhīni harṣitāni bhavanti hi | etāny adbhuta-liṅgāni dṛṣṭvāhaṃ drutam āgatā |
Bṛhadaśva said: “When he gently rubs those flowers between his hands, they do not become damaged or altered in any way. Rather, they become even more fragrant and seem to bloom with greater freshness and delight. Having witnessed these wondrous signs, I have come here in haste.”
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the recognition of auspicious, extraordinary signs: what would normally cause harm (rubbing flowers) instead enhances their fragrance and freshness. Ethically, it suggests attentiveness to subtle indicators of unusual virtue, divine favor, or exceptional nature in a person or event.
Bṛhadaśva reports an astonishing observation: someone rubs flowers in his hands, yet they do not wither; they become even more fragrant and lively. Seeing these wondrous signs, the speaker says they hurried to report/arrive.